BRANDON J. SUTTON
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Opportunity Cost

2/20/2020

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“I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life.” – Deuteronomy 30:19 GNT
 
In economics, the term "opportunity cost," is a fancy phrase for "trade-off." Every time you make a choice, there is a trade-off to consider. With each decision you make, you have to analyze what you are gaining as well as what you may be giving up.
 
What trade-offs to Christ have you chosen recently? The time we spend complaining, worrying, fearing and doubting is time we are not using communing with God. The more time we spend with God, the less time we spend in unhappiness, uncertainty and grief.
 
When making any decision, choose to come before God boldly and with confidence (1 John 5:14) believing that He is your source. Trust that He will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19) and provide you with a surplus. 
 
Source:
 
“… but those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give them will become in them a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life." – John 4:14 ESV
 
God is our source. When we make people our source, we become sad when they ultimately leave us. When we make money our source, we become depressed when we do not have it. When we make drugs, alcohol and sex our source we become despondent when the high is over. But when we make God our source, we will never run out of love, hope and happiness.
 
Supply:
 
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19 NIV
 
When we find ourselves in need financially, emotionally and spiritually we oftentimes seek worldly solutions to Godly problems. Our unbelief and impatience can lead to bad decisions. Before we were formed in the womb, God knew what we would need at this exact moment in our lives (Jeremiah 1:5). So, do not be angry by God’s perceived absence and do not take His presence for granted. Our heavenly Father knows what we need and will provide for us if we only believe (Matthew 6:32).
 
Surplus:
 
“Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands--all that you can hold.” – Luke 6:38 GNT
 
With God as our source and supplier, our responsibility shifts from trying to figure out how we are going to survive the pain and disappointment to figuring out how we are going to use the surplus of blessings God is about to bestow upon us. In all you do, honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce, then your life will be filled with plenty, and you will receive an overflow of God’s goodness (Proverbs 3:10).
 
It costs to be you. There are some things that you have survived that would have killed someone else. Therefore, choose to live your life in a manner that will bring glory to the God who has brought you this far. 
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Currency Exchange

2/10/2020

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“So, get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.” – Ephesians 4:22 – 24 GNT
 
My wife and I love traveling internationally. Every time we travel to a different country, we exchange American currency for that of the country which we are visiting. Depending on the country, the value of the dollar will either appreciate (gain in value) or depreciate (decrease in value). As Christians, we make daily exchanges – some strengthen us while others weaken us.
 
Bishop Lester Love once said, “The currency of Heaven is favor. Favor can get you what money cannot buy you.” So, what have you traded your favor, salvation and peace for?
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Our responsibility is to be cognizant of what we are exchanging with God and man. In order to get the most value out of your exchanges you’re going to have to determine your destination, check conversion rates and spend what you have.
 
Destination:
 
“The LORD guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please Him.”
– Psalm 37:23
 
When planning a trip, you must first determine your destination. Where you are going, will determine what you will need. If you are traveling aimlessly without a set destination in mind, you will find yourself living without direction, being tossed back and forth by situation and circumstances (Ephesians 4:14). As believers, we have to plan and choose where we want to go and who we want to follow. When we choose to travel with God, He directs our path and show us the righteous way to go.
 
Conversion Rate:
 
“Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.”
– Lamentations 3:23


Your daily exchanges will either add to you or subtract from you. When you give your time to people who do not deserve it, you will find yourself living in offense and anger when they do not reciprocate the same actions. When you give your time to pursuing God’s plan for your life, you will find yourself living in peace and happiness. What we exchange God’s truth for determines the type of life we will live. The enemy wants us to exchange our favor for fear, our faith for doubt and God’s mercies for condemnation. Do not exchange God’s truth for the lies of the enemy. 
 
Spend It:
 
“Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands--all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you." – Luke 6:38
 
God’s provision is in today, not in your past or your tomorrow. Do not try to hold onto the blessings of yesterday because God wants to do a new thing in your life today. Use the time God has given you to pursue the purpose He has for you. Use the love God has put inside of you to encourage others. Use the position He has placed you in to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than you. Spend what God has given you today without the fear of running out.
 
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do, I give to you (John 14:27).” Instead of exchanging your peace for depression, grief and doubt – exchange your depression, grief and doubt for God’s peace, love, plan and purpose for your life. 
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